Progress

Sign the Petition to

US Congress

I am writing not only for my own sake, but for the future prosperity of all Americans.

Our nation's finances are a disgrace. I am tired of politicians continuing to promise me fiscal responsibility only to behave recklessly as soon as they are elected.

With the national debt now greater than the size of the entire US economy, it is time for Congress to take a stand and actually focus on reducing our debt burden. In just 20 years, the interest on our debt will surpass the entire cost of Social Security!

The American people have seen what happens to countries that cannot pay their bills. We don’t want to become another Greece with rioting in our streets because the medicine we’ll need to swallow is too tough. It is incumbent on all fiscally responsible members of Congress to stop voting for programs and policies we simply cannot afford.

We urge that, except when related to a congressional authorization of force, you will:

ONE, consider all spending open for reduction and vote only for budgets that present a path to balance; and

TWO, vote against any appropriations bill that increases total spending and against the authorization or funding of new programs without offsetting cuts in other programs.

I know many voters who believe, like I do, that the issue of reducing spending is the most important of our generation. In return for your pledge to Reject the Debt, I pledge to you that I will not vote for anyone who is unwilling to sign on to these simple commitments.

Signed,

Coalition to Reduce Spending

This petition closed about 2 years ago

How this will help

During 2011, the federal government brought in $2.3 trillion in taxes, while spending $3.6 trillion – for a deficit of nearly $1.3 trillion.

During 2011, the federal government brought in $2.3 trillion in taxes, while spending $3.6 trillion – for a deficit of nearly $1.3 trillion.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that in the next 70 years, public money spent on interest alone will grow to almost 41% of our GDP. Today, interest represents 1.4%. In just 20 years, it is estimated that interest on our debt will exceed the cost of the entire Social Security program.

Spending across all levels of government now totals a whopping 40% of our gross domestic product. If it had merely kept pace with population growth and inflation during the last 50 years, spending would total less than 25% of what it is today.

Unfortunately, little change is emanating from Washington. Rather than coming together to reduce spending, politicians from both parties shake hands under an implicit agreement of "I'll vote for your spending if you vote for mine."

From 1954 to 2010, Republicans controlled the White House for 34 years and Democrats for 22. Democrats controlled Congress for 44 years and Republicans for 12. Our long-standing spending spree has been enabled on a completely bipartisan basis.

The time has come to reject the profligate spending of the last decade, and commit to reining in and balancing the budget once and for all.